A 19-year-old Zephyrhills man died Thursday night after being thrown from his motorcycle in a traffic accident on State Road 54.

Benjamin Mower, 19, was riding west on his 2007 Suzuki motorcycle at 6:30 p.m. on the highway near Loury Drive when traffic began to slow in front of him, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

When Mower began to pass in the eastbound lane, the driver of a 2007 Isuzu truck, Gary Frye Jr., 28, failed to see him and turned into his path, according to the accident report. Mower was unable to stop and slammed into the back of the truck, troopers said.

The crash tossed Mower from his motorcycle, killing him. Frye, of Lakeland, received no injuries, an accident report stated. Mower was wearing a helmet.

DADE CITY

Florida Traditions may buy Providence Bank

Florida Traditions Bank has entered into an agreement to acquire Providence Bank of Winter Haven.

If approved by shareholders and the regulatory agencies, the merger would expand the reach of Florida Traditions Bank — which currently has branches in Dade City, Zephyrhills and Spring Hill — into Polk County.

"We are very excited about the merger," said Bud Stalnaker, the chairman, chief executive and president of Florida Traditions Bank. "Polk County is a key market for any Central Florida bank, and opening a branch in Polk County has always been part of our strategic plan."

Florida Traditions Bank opened in December 2007 and has total assets of $74-million as of Sept. 30.

Providence Bank, which opened in September 2005 and has total assets of $41.8-million, would become Florida Tradition's second largest branch.